Bobbin-driving means for rotatable spindles.



P-ATENTBD JULY 21,4 1908.

P., H. THOMPSON. IVING MEANS POR ROTATABLE FJBIIQDLJESIv BOBBIN DR lPPLIOATION HLHD Nov'. 1, 1907.

Eve/670%):

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

-FRANK I-I. THOMPSON,` OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPERIQOMPANY,

,OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF` MAINE.

BOBBIN-DRIVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

No. sse-,760.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tully 21,1908.

Application filed November 1, 1907. Serial No. 400,298.

lTo all whom it may concern:

l Be it known that I, FRANK II. THoMPso,

'twisting and similar apparatus, whereby the bobbin, is accurately centered with relation '-to vthevspindle and -in conse uence will run true and with a minimum v1 ration.

rIhe bobbin driving means forming the 'subjectmatter of my present invention par- 2O takesto a certain extent of features common to simllar apparatus wherein the centrifugal force due to rapid rotation of the spindle is' made' effective through clutching members .to interiorly engage and driveithe bobbin,

but I have combined therewith means whereby thebobbinis always-.accurately centered with. relationl to the spindle. v

' In order to attain the desired result I provide spring-controlled means, to directly' engage t e inner surfaces ofthe clutchingmemers and effect outward movement thereof equally,4and inasmuch as the engaged inner surfaces of said members are true lwith rela- .tion to each other and ywith the external or bobbin engaging surfaces of the clutching 'Tmembers the latter are moved outward equally, with uniform force, thereby accurately centering the bobbin when applied to v#he spindle. 40 l 4 Figure `1 is aside elevation of a suiicient portion of a rotatable spindle provided with obbin driving means embodying my invention, thelower art of a bobbin being shown in connection t'erewith, in section; Fig. 2 is a partial section and elevationy of theapparatus, omitting altogether one of the clutching members, tomore clearly illustrate the con-v Y struction, the spindle being supposed to be lrunning bare; Fig. 3 is a similar view but with a bobbin applied to the spindle and in bperative engagement with the driving means; Fig. 4 is .a horizontal sectional view on vthe line 1 -4, Fig. 2.

' eline The rotatable spindle A', attached sleeve l having a whirl W, the transversely 7 segmental clutching members 2 loosely grouped around the spindle and having their lower ends insertedi' loosely in an annular recess or motion-limiting raceway 3 in the head 4 of the sleeve, and the collar 5 fast on the spindle and having a depending annular fiange 5X, to

form-a second motiondimiting raceway', for the u per ends of the members 2, may be and are a l substantially fof well known construction. The said members 2 have formed on their inner sidesupturned, segmental parts or projections 6 which'enter loosely the upper raceway, the base of each projection bel ingbeveled, to present an upwardly and inwardly extended inclined surface 7, and so -far as thus described the'construction is common` to certain forms of centrifugally acting bobbin -driving means, the lateral` outward movement ofthe clutching members' being limited by the upper and lower raceways', A as .will be manifest;

" The several inclined surfaces 7 are true with each other, and with the external bearing portions of the clutching members, which are adapted to enter the recess o in the base of the bobbin B, Figs. l and 3, and to internally engage and drive the bobbin in unison with the spindle.r

Iutilize'the surfaces 7 to effect equal outward movement ofthe clutching members 'to thereby accurately center the bobbin, and to this end I slidably mount an expander .or col lar 8 on the spindle between the collar and the usual enlargement 9 at the lower ends of the clutching members, and preferably the top ,ofthe expander is slightly beveled, as shown in the drawing.

A spiral spring 10 is coiled. around the spindle between the enlargement 9 and the4 expander 8, to normally elevate the latter and ress its beveled edge against the in d) or beveled surfaces 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby effecting equal outward movement of all the clutching inembers-'2, such movement being `limited by lthe motion-limiting means whenthe spindle is running bare, as in F ig.` 2.

When the bobbin is applied to the spindlel the upiper ends of the members '2 are pressed inwar as they enter the recess or chamberl b,

v the surfaces 7 acting to depress the expanderv equally by the sping 1n w 8 against its spring 10, but While'the several clutching members' are independent of each other it will be seen that they are acted upon controlled eX ander and hence the bo ill be accurate y centered on the spindle. As the bobbin is thus properly centered it runs truer and with a minimum of vibration, and whether or not the bobbin be applied accurately the device is self-centering, for the spring-controlled means actse ually and simultaneously upon all the clutching members of the group.

The spring is light, relatively speaking, as it will be obviousl that the work required of it is to center-the bobbin, andthe centrifugal action of the clutching members may or may not act in conjunction with the spring to effect the requisite driving engagement with the bobbin.

The construction is very simple and cheap to manufacture, and it is thoroughly efficient in operation.

As is usual in bobbin drivingmeans ofthis general type the clutching members arelaterally separated by pins 11, -driven radially into the head of thel whirl-sleeve, the said `members being also rotated positively withY the spindle.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as newl and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a rotatablefs indle, of elongated'bobbin-clutchin'g mem ers rotatable therewith and adapted to interi-v orly engage a bobbin, spring controlled means movable longitudinally with relation to and directly engaging the inner surfaces of the clutching members near their upper ends to effect equal outward movement thereof and accurately centerv the bobbin,

and means carried by the spindle to coperate with said clutching members and limit such outward movement thereof.

2.' The combination with a rotatable spindle,: of elongated bobbin-clutching 'members rotatable therewith and adapted to. interiorlyjengage a bobbin, motion-limiting raceways on the s indle, with which the .upper and lower en s of' saidfmembers cooperate. loosely, and spring-controlled meansy mov- -able longitudinally with relation to and; di-

rectlyengaging the inner surfaces of and effectlng equal outward movement of the clutching members. 3. The combination with a rotatable spin# dle, of elongated bobbin-clutching members rotatable therewith and adapted to interi-` orly engage a bobbin, each member having an upwardly and inwardly'tapered internal surface,.spring-controlled means to engage said surfaces and thereby effect equal outward movement of the clutching members to an upturned, interior projection beveled at its base, a'collar fast on the spindle and hav'- ing an annular depending flange extending outside of said projections, permitting limited lateral movement of the upper end sof the clutching members, and a s ring-controlled collar slidable on the spindle'and engaging the beveled bases offthe'projections to move outward. and equally the upper ends of the clutching members.

5. The combination with a rotatable s indle, of elongated bobbin-clutching mem ers rotatable therewith and adapted to interi-f orly engagea bobbin, each member havin an upwardly and inwardly taperedinterna.

surface, spring-controlled means to engage` said surfaces and thereby effect' equal outward movement of the clutchingmembers to accurately center the bobbin, andannular,

motion-limiting race'ways on the spindle, to

loosely coperatewith'the upper and lower ends of the clutching members.

6. The combination wi h a-rotable spindle, .of' elongated, transversely -segmental bobbin. clutching members rotatable therewith and adapted to interiorly engage and drive-a bobbin, each memberhaving an up# turned, internal projection beveled at lts base, a'motion-'limiting raceway on the spindle intowhich the projectionsv enter loosely,

to limit lateral and prevent upward movef..

ment of said members,` and a spring-controlled, movable expander'to engage the beveled'faces of said projections and'efect equal outward movement of the clutching members.

7. The combination'Witha'rotatable-s indle, of elongated, bobbin-clutching mem ers rotatable therewith and adapted to intel-L acting centeri'ngvmeans movable'longitu' inally withrelation to andto directly engage orly engage a bobbin, vand.' automaticall the inner surfaces of and effect equal and simultaneous -outward movement of all the clutching members, to accurately center the bobbin with relation to the spindle, the centering means vengaging the clutching-members near theirl upper ends. 1

In testimony Whereof, 1 have signed my name to this speciicationfin the presence' of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK THOMPSON Witnesses: 1'

GEoRGEO'rIs DRArER', ERNEST Woon. 

